ALT Illustration of Maryam Mirzakhani from the AWM EvenQuads card deck with text detailing her achievements as the first woman and Iranian to win the Fields Medal in mathematics. Text reads: "Mirzakhani was from Iran and did her graduate studies in the US. She was a full professor at Stanford University until her untimely death from breast cancer, having previously been at Princeton University. Mirzakhani was awarded the Fields Medal (2014) for her work on hyperbolic and symplectic geometry. This made her both the first woman and the first Iranian to win this prestigious award. She was made a member of the National Academy of Sciences (2016), and that body now awards the Maryam Mirzakhani Prize in Mathematics in her honor. Mirzakhani’s birthday, May 12th, is known as a day for celebrating women in mathematics.

ALT Logo of a stylized flower with text promoting May 12 as Women in Mathematics Day, highlighting the 8th edition in 2026 and global events, all on a purple gradient background.

ALT Collage of photos on green background. Starting from the top left corner and going clockwise: 1. Woman in red outfit presenting lecture at chalkboard. 2. Group of 5 women standing. 3. Young woman holding up a colorful cube. 4. Former AWM President Dr. Talitha Washington presenting an award to Dr. Erika Camacho. 5. Women in red outfit presenting a poster and talking with a man. 6. Two women at an AWM event. 7. Center: Woman holding up a sign that says, "All are Welcome in Mathematics."

ALT Zach Groshell The science of learning movement can’t widen its tent until the point of collapse. It doesn’t need presenters who recycle progressive catchphrases, dress up bad ideas in a veneer of science, and constantly tell teachers, “you’re doing it wrong, everyone but me is doing it wrong.”

ALT Helen Ling was a software engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

ALT Born in China in 1928, she studied mathematics at the University of Notre Dame—the only woman to do so at the time.

ALT While working at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she developed software for the Infrared Astronomical Satellite, Magellan, TOPEX/Poseidon, and Mars Observer missions.

ALT Ling was a pioneer for women’s rights in the workplace, employing women computer programmers and encouraging them to earn degrees.

ALT Purple gradient background with a white stylized flower logo and text promoting the 8th Women in Mathematics celebration on May 12, 2026.

ALT Photograph of mathematician Louise Hay wearing a brown collared jacket and a red turtleneck sweater sitting outdoors in front of dense green foliage, with a concrete ledge behind her.

ALT SLMath honors retiring Deputy Director Hélène Barcelo at her Celebration of Service in March 2026. Pictured from left are SLMath Emeriti Trustee Dr. Judy Walker, SLMath Director Dr. Tatiana Toro, SLMath Deputy Director Dr. Hélène Barcelo, and SLMath Emeriti Trustee and former Director David Eisenbud.